Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: The right supplies
• Part 2 of 4: Keeping your body clean
• Part 3 of 4: Remedy odors
• Part 4 of 4: Understanding menstruation better
• Tips
• Warnings

Many women feel insecure about their periods, but the menstrual cycle is a natural process. Read on to learn about proper care during your period to help you feel less insecure.

To step

Part 1 of 4: The right supplies

1. Know what options you have. Women today have all kinds of different personal hygiene options for menstruation, so choose something that best suits your lifestyle.
2. Consider tampons to use. Tampon are most commonly used during menstruation in the Western world because they are convenient and easy to use. A tampon is made of absorbent cotton and is worn in the vagina to receive the blood that comes out of the uterus. There are tampons with varying degrees of absorbency, such as light, normal, heavy and super, to match the intensity of your period. You throw away tampons after use, and you should change them every four to eight hours.
   • Never wear a tampon for more than eight hours, and get a kind that is no more absorbent than you need, as this can lead to a rare condition called "toxic shock syndrome".
3. Try sanitary pads. Sanitary towels are placed in your underwear, and they come in all kinds of lengths and degrees of absorbent capacity. They are made of an absorbent material called cellulose and should be discarded after use. Some women use them as extra protection in addition to a tampon, but other women prefer only sanitary pads because they are not comfortable inserting anything into their vagina. Because sanitary napkins have a leak-proof plastic backing, they retain odors more than other personal hygiene products.
4. Learn about the use of washable fabric sanitary pads. Some women choose to buy or make sanitary towels from an absorbent material such as cotton, microfiber or bamboo. Fabric sanitary pads do not contain chemicals like disposable pads, and will not smell bad when the blood is absorbed by them. However, you do need to wash them regularly, and they are usually a bit larger and thicker than disposable pads.
5. Invest in one menstrual cup. The menstrual cup is becoming more and more popular. Some cups have to be thrown away after use and put in like a diaphragm. There are also reusable menstrual cups, such as those from LadyCup or Lunette. They are made of silicone and are inserted deep into the vagina, up to the cervix. In both cases, the cup is held in place by the muscles of the vaginal wall. You can keep the cup in for 12 hours, even when you go swimming and when you sleep. Because you wear them internally, you don't smell much when you have your period.
   • The cup should be emptied every four to twelve hours. You throw the blood in the toilet or in the sink and rinse the cup before putting it back in.
6. Change your tampon or pads regularly. If you keep a tampon in for too long, you can leak, and if you wear a pad for too long it can start to smell.
   • During heavy days of your period, you may need to change your pads or tampon every two hours. On light days, every three to four hours is probably sufficient.
   • Again, never leave a tampon in for more than eight hours, including overnight, and don't use tampons that are more absorbent than necessary to reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome.
7. Be well prepared. Your periods are likely to be regular and predictable, but sometimes you may have "breakthrough bleeding" in between periods, or have your period earlier than expected. So always be prepared for it and bring the right supplies.
   • Keep a tampon or sanitary napkin in your bag, your locker and / or your car, for emergencies.
   • Keep a supply of tampons or sanitary pads in your toilet so that you don't have to go to the store when you have your period.
   • Don't be afraid to ask a friend for a tampon or pad if necessary. Even a stranger can help you in an emergency.

Part 2 of 4: Keeping your body clean

1. Shower every day. Your entire body should be cleaned every day, and if you have your period you should take extra time to wash your vagina well on the outside, as blood and moisture can build up there.
   • Use a mild soap or shower gel and wash your entire body, including the outside of your vagina, and rinse well.
   • You don't have to take special soap for your genitals; that's just a marketing ploy to exploit the uncertainty surrounding your period. Remember that it is normal for your body to smell like a body and your genitals to smell like genitals.
   • Never clean the inside of your vagina with, for example, vaginal douches. Your vagina is a self-cleaning organ that naturally has the right balance and can flush out mucus-contaminants, and with a vaginal douche you can disturb the pH level and cause infections.
2. Try baby wipes. If you want to freshen up in between, you can use unscented baby wipes to get rid of odors.
   • Use the wipes like you use toilet paper after urinating or defecating, and only wipe the outside of your body. Then throw the wipes in the trash and never flush them down the toilet, as this can lead to blockages.
   • Baby wipes are made for a small child's sensitive skin, so they shouldn't sting, but stop using them anyway if it itches, burns, or if you get an infection.
3. Keep your underwear fresh. You can keep feeling fresh and avoid odors if you change your underwear regularly and be careful not to leak.
   • Wear cotton underwear. Cotton is a natural fiber that is highly breathable, so that you sweat less and do not get bad odors quickly.
   • Do not wear a thong during your period, as bacteria can pass from your anus to your vagina, where they cause infections.
   • Change your underwear when it gets damp from sweat or moisture, but at least once a day.
4. Wash your clothes. Sometimes body odors can get worse during your period, making your clothes smell musty.
   • Use the recommended amount of detergent and wash all your clothes, including your underwear, every day.
   • If there is blood in your clothing or bedding, rinse it out with cold water as soon as possible and rub in a stain remover, such as Biotex. Leave it on for a few hours and then wash it with warm water using your normal detergent.

Part 3 of 4: Remedy odors

1. Remember that most of the odors you smell during your period are completely normal, so don't worry. Other people probably really don't smell you. Every woman has a different vaginal odor when she has her period (and also when she is not), so it is important to know which smells are and which are not normal for you.
   • Blood normally has a bit of an iron-like odor. This is normal, but if you are concerned, try using tampons or a menstrual cup, or change your pads more often.
   • If the odor is very strong, fishy, ​​dirty, or otherwise foreign to you, and you wash daily, there may be an underlying cause.
   • If you are using tampons and you find yourself smelling, make sure you haven't left a tampon on. You may have inserted a new tampon without removing the old one. A tampon cannot get lost in your body, so if there is one left, you should be able to find and remove it. Insert a clean finger into your vagina and feel if you can grab the string, then pull the tampon out. If you cannot remove it, see your doctor immediately.
2. See your doctor to rule out an infection. A fishy or foul odor that persists even if you wash regularly can indicate an infection called bacterial vaginosis, and you need medication for that.
   • Bacterial vaginosis is often accompanied by itching or burning, but sometimes a foul odor is the only symptom. You will need to see your doctor to get medicine for this infection.
3. Check if you smell like sweat. Due to the hormone fluctuations during your period, you can sometimes smell different or stronger of sweat.
   • While most women will continue to use their normal deodorant during their periods, for some it is not enough.
   • Both your body odor and your vaginal odor can be affected by what you eat and drink, and certain foods such as garlic, coffee, and fried foods can change the smell. If you eat or drink a lot of this, try cutting back temporarily to see if that helps.
4. Take the weather into account. On very hot days, blood and sweat can mix and cause you to smell stronger than usual.
   • This can be especially a problem if you wear sanitary towels, as bacteria, blood and sweat can be trapped between the layers of plastic. In that case, use tampons or a menstrual cup, because you wear them in your body, or change your sanitary towels more often.

Part 4 of 4: Understanding menstruation better

1. Know when your period starts. Most women have their first periods when they are about 12 years old.
   • The first menstrual period usually starts two years after the first signs of puberty, such as slightly swollen or protruding nipples (no real breasts yet), and a few months after the first underarm and pubic hairs appear.
   • Your first period may be accompanied by painful breasts, mood swings or pain in your stomach (menstrual cramps).
2. Know that every woman of childbearing age has to deal with periods. You don't have to be ashamed of anything.
   • The first time you get your period, you may be worried or insecure. But look around you. Every person you see is born of a woman who has or has had her period, and almost every woman you know has her period every month. All your friends will have their periods or already have. It is a completely normal and natural process.
   • Most girls have their periods around the age of 12 and menopause around the age of 50 which means that they have their periods every month for an average of 38 years, that is 456 times!
3. Learn to recognize the signals from your own body. Every menstrual cycle is different, but most women get to know their cycle so they are prepared for it when they start having their period.
   • A menstrual cycle actually refers to the entire fertility cycle, which lasts an average of 28 days, which means that you have your period about once a month. Every month, the female body prepares for pregnancy. The endometrium thickens so that a possible embryo can implant, then an egg is released and descends to the uterus, and if not fertilized during sex, it leaves the body again, along with the endometrium, which looks like menstrual blood when it leaves the vagina.
   • Shortly before your period, you may experience common symptoms called PMS (premenstrual syndrome), such as bloating, fatigue, moodiness, cravings for certain foods, headaches and stomach cramps.

Tips

• Do not use perfumed sanitary towels as it can irritate the skin and lead to infections.
• If you are very worried or have a lot of PMS, always bring extra tampons, pads and clean underwear to school. It's also a good idea to wear dark pants or a skirt.

Warnings

• If you use tampons, know the warning signs of toxic shock syndrome. These include a high fever, a rash that looks like a sunburn, low blood pressure, dizziness and diarrhea. Remove your tampon and call 911 if you experience these symptoms.